The "Uniao XV de Novembro" Musical Society as Cultural Heritage: from musical practice to the live archive

This article proposes reflections on the importance of recognizing and safeguarding Brazilian music bands as cultural heritage through a research on the trajectory of the centenary band from Sociedade Musical Uniao XV de Novembro, located in the city of Mariana-MG. Musical societies, in addition to being protagonists in the musical production of many cities, play the role of guardians of memories related to popular tradition, contributing to the formation and affirmation of a musical identity in the country. The patrimony of the Uniao XV de Novembro Musical Society consists of a collection of scores, musical instruments, photographs, statutes and minutes of meetings, the memory of its musicians and musical knowledge and practices transmitted to generations, reproducing and (re)inventing a community tradition. The band is a living and active entity and the memories of its conductors and musicians, holders of the knowledge of a musical culture, as well as its musical and musicographic documents express a cultural heritage that needs to be valued, registered, disseminated and preserved. In theoretical and methodological terms, we analyzed a vast bibliography on music bands and cultural heritage and various documental sources that include newspapers, memorialists' reports, musical scores, photographs and administrative documents found in the documentary collection of the Uniao XV de Novembro Musical Society.